3 minute read

Parramatta have a major injury concern before the NRL's finals, with Maika Sivo facing an uphill battle to play again this season.

Parramatta fear Maika Sivo has played his last game this year after the powerful winger left Cbus Super Stadium on crutches with a knee injury.

Sivo is due for scans on Sunday which the Eels expect will confirm medial ligament damage in his right knee, after it was twisted in a tackle in Saturday's 32-16 win over North Queensland.

Sivo would be expected to be out for at least the final two weeks of the regular season, but depending on the severity he could be in a battle to return in the finals.

His injury could open the door for a Blake Ferguson return, with the off-contract veteran fit again.

"I think they said MCL," Arthur said on Saturday night in reference to Sivo's injury.

"He will need scans in the morning. We are pushing it to get him back this year.

"Fergo is back this week, Fergo will come back onto the wing and Haze (Dunster) will probably have to swap over to the other side of the field."

The Eels were given good news on Sunday though with Nathan Brown and hooker Joey Lussick both avoiding bans after being put on report during the win.

Brown has avoided any charge for a crusher tackle on Reuben Cotter in the first half while Lussick has been fined for dangerous contact on Cowboys halfback Tom Dearden.

Parramatta have the hardest run home of any team with Melbourne and Penrith in the final fortnight, but Saturday's win still kept their faint top-four hopes alive.

Beyond that though, the Eels will be hoping the victory can swing their confidence no matter how scrappy it was, after a horror month in which they lost four straight.

"We had one job tonight and that was to win a game of footy," Arthur said.

"It's very hard when you have lost four in a row and the form we've been in to execute a plan and get it right straight away.

"We tried hard. The two things we wanted was a bit more energy and line speed in defence. We got that."